China has lodged a formal protest with Japan after what it described as a “forceful break-in” at its embassy in Tokyo, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Details of the Intrusion

According to spokesperson Lin Jian, an individual claiming to be an active-duty officer of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces scaled the embassy wall and entered the premises on Tuesday morning. The individual later admitted the act was illegal and allegedly threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic staff “in the name of God”.

China’s Response

Beijing said it was deeply shocked and urged Tokyo to conduct a full investigation, punish those responsible, and provide an explanation. It also called on Japan to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and prevent such incidents from happening again.

Japan’s Reaction

Japan’s Ministry of Defence said it was aware of media reports about the incident but declined to comment further.

Strained Bilateral Relations

Relations between China and Japan have been under strain in recent months. Tensions rose after Sanae Takaichi suggested last November that a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

Japan is also expected to revise its diplomatic stance, downgrading its description of ties with China in its annual report, while still calling the relationship “strategic” and “mutually beneficial”, according to a draft reviewed by Reuters.

When asked about the shift, Lin reiterated calls for Takaichi to withdraw her earlier remarks.

(with inputs from Reuters)